Better Market Street Environmental Review Process

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The Planning Department is conducting environmental review of the Better Market Street project in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The environmental review process provides decision-makers and the general public with an objective analysis of the immediate and long-range specific and cumulative environmental impacts of a proposed project on its surrounding physical environment. In California, environmental review is two-fold in purpose: to disclose the impacts of a project and to ensure public participation. The San Francisco Planning Department serves as the Lead Agency and will prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) to evaluate the environmental effects of the proposed Better Market Street project.

About Better Market Street

The Project sponsor, San Francisco Public Works (Public Works), in coordination with the Citywide Planning Division of the San Francisco Planning Department and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), proposes to redesign and provide various transportation and streetscape improvements to the 2.2-mile segment of Market Street between Octavia Boulevard and The Embarcadero (Market Street) and potentially to the 2.3-mile segments of Mission Street between Valencia Street and The Embarcadero, as well as Valencia Street between Market and McCoppin streets and 10th Street between Market and Mission (Mission Street) as part of the proposed Better Market Street Project (Proposed Project). Proposed Project elements consist of both transportation and streetscape improvements, including changes to roadway configuration and private vehicle access; traffic signals; surface transit, including transit-only lanes, stop spacing, service, stop location, stop characteristics and infrastructure; bicycle facilities; pedestrian facilities; streetscapes; commercial and passenger loading; vehicular parking; plazas; and utilities.

The EIR will analyze three alternatives. Based on the EIR and other analysis and comment, a project proposal within the range of these alternatives will be proposed for consideration and approval:

Alternatives 1 and 2 include two designs for the bicycle facilities on Market Street, Design Option A and Design Option B. Under Alternatives 1 and 2 Design Option A, an enhanced version of the existing shared vehicle and bicycle lane with painted sharrows (shared lane pavement markings) would be provided at locations where a dedicated bicycle facility is not already present. Under Alternatives 1 and 2 Design Option B, a new raised cycle track (an exclusive bicycle facility that is physically separated from motor traffic and is distinct from the sidewalk for the exclusive or primary use of bicycles) the entire length of Market Street would be provided, except at locations where the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)/Muni entrances or other obstructions would not allow it. Alternative 3 includes the proposed bicycle facilities on Market Street described under Alternative 1, Design Option A and adds a cycle track in both directions on Mission Street.

Environmental Review Public Meetings

The Planning Department held a Public Scoping Meeting on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 1455 Market Street, Ground Floor Lobby Conference Room, San Francisco.

Members of the public are not required to provide personal identifying information when they communicate with the Commission or Department. All written or oral communications, including submitted personal contact information, may be made available to the public for inspection and copying upon request and may appear on the Department's website or in other public documents.